The USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden School Board Wednesday began initial discussions of how it plans to reopen schools for the fall. The current timeline for reopening, according to the state, shows planning to begin on June 1st, guidance from the state on July 10th, and implementation on July 15th. Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade says they want to do everything they can until that July 10th date to be ready for implementation. “We don’t know if there is going to be any kind of flexibility in terms of assessment, days in the school year, and for us to be able to look…
Author: KMAN Staff
K-State Research and Extension and the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry will host a webinar to assist Kansas beef producers in navigating through the current and upcoming weather seasons in the midst of a market volatile from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time of year, weather conditions can vary widely and, according to K-State beef cattle extension veterinarian AJ Tarpoff, cause stress on cattle. K-State will seek to educate beef-production managers on tools and strategies for marketing and environmental forecasting. The webinar will feature K-State climatologist Mary Knapp providing information on current and future weather…
WICHITA, Kan. — A 22-year-old man is charged with killing a teenager in Wichita during a drug deal. Malcolm Louis Ganther was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and aggravated battery in the death of 17-year-old Marcus Sain. Police say two teenagers got into the back of Ganther’s car on May 20. A disturbance led another suspect to get out of a different car and shoot the teenagers in Ganther’s car. Sain died the next day. The second teenager was treated and released at a hospital. Prosecutors say the shooting occurred as part of a marijuana deal. Police are searching for…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Two companies that caused a chlorine gas leak over Atchison in 2016 have each been fined $1 million. Harcos Chemicals and MGP Ingredients had pleaded guilty earlier to negligently violating the Clean Air Act. They were officially fined during a court hearing Wednesday. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said the fines have been paid. The chlorine gas cloud formed over Atchison in October 2016 when 4,000 gallons of sulfuric acid was mistakenly combined with 5,800 gallons of sodium hypochlorite at MGP’s plant. Nearby homes and schools were evacuated and residents were told to shelter in place. About 140…
TOPEKA, Kan. — At least eight wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against a Kansas care facility where 36 people have died from the coronavirus. The lawsuits allege Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation in Kansas City was negligent in its handling of the spread of the coronavirus. They say the home lacked adequate staff and failed to notify residents’ families of the outbreak. Another 132 residents and staff have tested positive for the virus at the home. Riverbend officials have said its staff took reasonable actions given the information about the virus available at the time. Attorneys representing the home have transferred…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Police say a 9-year-old Kansas boy was trapped for more than an hour under a vehicle that crashed through his bedroom wall this week. Television station WDAF reports that the crash happened around 2 a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City, Kansas. The boy, Jamison Langley, tells the station he was awake and watching online videos when he suddenly found himself under the crashed Jeep, unable to move and having trouble breathing. After about an hour, rescue crews were able to free Jamison, who suffered only cuts and bruises. But almost everything in his room and even his…
Pottawatomie County has issued a new health order following Gov. Laura Kelly’s decision to give county government’s authority over their reopening plans. Public Health Order No. 5, effective as of 6 p.m. yesterday, limits mass gatherings to 50 people and prevents entertainment venues with capacities of 2000 or more from opening. The order is largely in line with the the state reopening plan, which remains in place as a guideline for local governments, and the reopening policies released by Riley County yesterday. However, unlike Riley County health order, bars are not required to close by a certain time. Riley County’s…
K-State Department of Communications Associate Professor Dr. Tim Shaffer joined us Thursday. Pawnee Mental Health Executive Director Robbin Cole spoke about Mental Health America’s “Tools 2 Thrive” campaign.
A long-time presence in Manhattan’s finance department is in his final week of work before retirement. Chief Financial Officer Bernie Hayen is leaving Manhattan after a 19 and a half year stint in the city’s employment. Altogether, City Manager Ron Fehr estimates Hayen has served the city for more than 30 years, rivaling his time teaching business and finance part-time at Kansas State University. He first announced his retirement at a January meeting of the Manhattan City Commission. Fehr took time to recognize Hayen at the start of Tuesday’s commission meeting. “We wanted to take this opportunity […] to offer…
Manhattan officials Tuesday discussed new revenue, increasing cash balances and rising debt service in a broad budget overview. Manhattan City Commissioners Tuesday discussed the proposed 2021 budget in a remote city work session. Currently, the city is holding property tax in the proposed 2021 budget to a flat mill levy of 49.79 mills. Manhattan is budgeting for zero dollars worth of capital improvement projects in the general fund. An estimated 1 percent property valuation growth in Riley and Pottawatomie County is expected to contribute an extra $291,438 in revenue, raising anticipated property tax collections from $29.14 million to $29.44 million.…